2017 Ford Fusion Adds 20 Driver-Assist Features

The 2017 Ford Fusion offers 20 driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology. These added safety features aid drivers in their daily commutes, as they navigate urban traffic.

Ford's adaptive cruise control paired with stop-and-go-technology lets drivers set their cruise control speed and following distance from the vehicle ahead using dedicated steering wheel buttons. The semi-autonomous technology can automatically adjust the set speed and bring the vehicle to a full stop when traffic stops. After the vehicle is stopped for three seconds, the driver can press the resume button or accelerator and the car will return to its preset speed.

The adaptive cruise control system uses a combination of sensors and software. An advanced radar- and camera-based system reads the road every 50 milliseconds to track traffic and adjust cruise control according to traffic flow.

Another added safety feature is the pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection. It employs the same sensors and camera to watch the road for potential collisions with vehicles or pedestrians. When a situation is detected, the system will send a visual and audible warning to the driver and pre-charge the brakes. If necessary, it can also apply up to full braking force. This would help reduce the severity of frontal collisions.

“When testing this system, we traveled to cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, heading straight for the worst possible congestion,” says Scott Lindstrom, Ford driver-assist technologies manager. “It was important for us to test this system under conditions the average driver encounters every workday.”

All 20 driver-assist features will be available across the Fusion product line, including the Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi. The 2017 Fusion is expected to arrive in the spring. And, the stop-and-go safety feature will be added to three new Ford products within the next two years.